Letters: Fans and players deserve better

Les Miles doesn’t deserve a raise. He owes LSU a refund. Coach Miles appears to be a wonderful husband and father. He’s been an excellent recruiter. Unfortunately, he makes bad game-time decisions, and his teams are only as good as his coordinators. Without John Chavis’s defense, he would be looking for a new job along with Gene Chizik.

Coach Miles’s decisions during the Alabama game cost LSU a shot at another BCS title. Remember the fake field goal on fourth and 12? How about the unsuccessful 54-yard field goal attempt just prior to half time that led to an Alabama touchdown? Let’s not forget the Spencer Ware “Wildcat Play” on fourth down that has been a disaster all season.

Clemson beat LSU like a drum on New Year’s Eve. Total yards: 445-219. First downs: 32 to 9. Passing yards: 346-120. There was still a chance with two minutes to go. LSU had three plays to gain two yards and seal the deal. Jeremy Hill was averaging over 10 yards per carry. The “Mad Hatter” calls for two passes — both incomplete. And the rest is history.

LSU’s offense is a disgrace. Coach Miles needs to recognize his lack of talent in calling plays and hire an accomplished offensive coordinator. Otherwise, we can only hope to be playing for second place in the SEC West. I hate to see Tiger Stadium become the place where our dreams of another BCS title “come to die.” The LSU players who have worked so hard and the fans that support this team deserve better.

Walter Bringaze

physician, TAF member

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by AnewKINDofFEELIN - 07/01/2013

I really do hate most of our idiotic fanbase. I wish we could sent Walter to the Twilight Zone where he can only watch the likes of Curly Hallman and Mike Archer. See the forest for the trees, you miserable fools.

2) Comment by Whatchange - 07/01/2013

I do believe the players fleeing to the NFL speaks for itself.

3) Comment by ScotB - 06/01/2013

One game does not a record make. A successful program depends on recruiting, fundraising, discipline, training, and play calling. A great coach excels at all of these and Les Miles is indeed a great coach. Careful what you wish for, as LSU depends on the success of its football program more than any other university in the nation, as it accounts for 14% of total university revenues. This means that many other programs, professors, and staff depend on this revenue. Champ or chump, hero or zero - that's the way it is in competition. A complete pass and everyone sings a different song. On balance, Miles has an incredible record of success. Thank you, Les Miles.

4) Comment by Attila - 06/01/2013

Les Miles found a bird nest on the ground....and he KNOWS it. A long term contract at over 4 mil per, with a rollover for winning x number of games per season...probably about 8 not including a bowl. Les is not worried about being fired. If the wimps that run the LSU athletic department ever grew the cojones to fire Miles they would have to pay him 15-20 million...So Miles goes tripping along beating the Little Sisters of the Poor, and low tier SEC teams in ugly fashion, and losing to the top tier. He could care les. He got his....and the ticket holders and taxpayers took it on the chin and elsewhere.

5) Comment by phil - 06/01/2013

How LSU can save $3 million per year. Pay the coach $3 million less. Besides I think we all indirectly pay for these large salaries, which is one thing that I believe is wrong with our society, in general..

6) Comment by AuntSandy - 06/01/2013

DMJ, the success of LSU football is tied inextricably to the economic development of this city and state and, believe it or not, championship football teams at LSU actually attract more desirable students. A successful LSU football team is a great recruiting tool for the academic side of the University. A buffoon roaming the sidelines blowing decisions any 12-year old who's ever played video game football could master has the opposite effect. A coach responsible for the three most embarrassing bowl losses in 120 years has the opposite effect as well. Please don't tell me not to complain. Oh, and it should be FEWER morons.

7) Comment by DMJ - 05/01/2013

10-3 and people still complain. I wish people cared half as much about the education LSU provides as they do about the football. We might have less morons in the state. Oh well...

8) Comment by LoboBR - 05/01/2013

I Knight Thee, Sir Walter. APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! Now if only Aleva and all those other higher-up stiffs would see what we see. Miles is only in it for the money. The raise and extension he received is definitely not deserved. Others will say look at the win percentage. Bah! The Bowl record Miles has (last 4 years especially @ 1-3) is becoming a horrific nightmare. Future opportunities to good Bowls will be hampered by these continuous mistakes Miles is so good at. I am not a member of the TAF, do their opinions account for anything before raises and extensions are granted to these Coaches?

9) Comment by phil - 05/01/2013

I think the coach could do a better job if LSU gave him another $million or so a year and give him the title of the six million dollar man. Perhaps some people remember that TV show. (yes this is sarcasm, for those in doubt). I see the writer of the letter is a TAF member. Perhaps the raise could come from increases in "donations" for those football tickets.

10) Comment by swinham - 05/01/2013

Great letter. Miles seemed distracted throughout the Clemson game. I guess he was beating himself up for not trying to squeeze a couple of million more out of LSU and TAF.

11) Comment by jwhitemd - 05/01/2013

All the other old fools I spend my days fishing and socializing with say exactly the same thing, Walter, thanks for putting it to the public in an excellent letter. Jim White.

12) Comment by tradewinns - 04/01/2013

holy cow! someone finally said what i've been saying all year. and they put it in writing! if miles is so good at everything but play calling, he should stop trying to do what he is bad at and concentrate on what he can do. thank you walter!!!

13) Comment by prbeav - 04/01/2013

What I like most about Dr. Bringaze's letter is that he applauds Coach Miles's greatness and offers a solution to the perceived problem.